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Research ArticleResearch Section

Soil health conceptualization differs across key stakeholder groups in the Midwest

J. Wade, M.A. Beetstra, M.L. Hamilton, S.W. Culman and A.J. Margenot
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation July 2021, 02158; DOI: https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2021.02158
J. Wade
(corresponding author) is an assistant professor, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, previously with the Department of Crop Sciences at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
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M.A. Beetstra
is a John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC, previously with the School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
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M.L. Hamilton
is an assistant professor, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
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S.W. Culman
is an associate professor and state extension specialist of soil fertility, School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
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A.J. Margenot
is an assistant professor, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois.
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Abstract

Stakeholder conceptualizations of soil health inform agricultural decision-making. Currently, diverse sources of soil health knowledge have resulted in divergent conceptualizations of soil health across groups. Using a combination of mail and online surveys of corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), and wheat (Tritcum aestivum L.) farmers (n = 89); USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) personnel (n = 134); and agricultural researchers (n = 42) in the Midwest; we (1) investigated how members of these groups perceived prioritization of soil health by farmers, (2) explored conceptual linkages with soil health, and (3) assessed the efficacy of soil testing methods. Farmers ranked soil health as a much higher priority (8.5/10) than NRCS personnel and researchers expected (4.9 and 5.7, respectively). While there were many areas of shared conceptualization, there were also key systematic differences across groups. Use of specific types of soil tests was positively associated with their valuation, with the exception of farmer use of soil health tests. Farmers ranked soil health tests as providing highly valued information but reported low use, suggesting barriers to adoption rather than a lack of interest. These findings have implications for both communication and research strategies for soil health.

Key words:
  • farmer attitudes
  • farmer beliefs
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • soil health
  • soil testing
  • © 2021 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
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Journal of Soil and Water Conservation: 77 (4)
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Vol. 77, Issue 4
July/August 2022
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Soil health conceptualization differs across key stakeholder groups in the Midwest
J. Wade, M.A. Beetstra, M.L. Hamilton, S.W. Culman, A.J. Margenot
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Jul 2021, 02158; DOI: 10.2489/jswc.2021.02158

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Soil health conceptualization differs across key stakeholder groups in the Midwest
J. Wade, M.A. Beetstra, M.L. Hamilton, S.W. Culman, A.J. Margenot
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Jul 2021, 02158; DOI: 10.2489/jswc.2021.02158
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Keywords

  • farmer attitudes
  • farmer beliefs
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • soil health
  • soil testing

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